THE STATE PRISONS.
Mr. Wadge, Chairman of the Committee on Prisons, submitted a general report on the condition of the State Prisons, North and South. It recommends an appropriation of $2,000 for the purpose of securing water facilities for the Northern Prison, and $3,000 for ditching; that the Chaplains salary be increased, and he be required to live in or near the prison, etc. It also asserts that the Southern Prison is unfit to keep human beings in. The Committee recommend the prompt abolishment of the cat and whip, and the abandonment of the Southern Prison in 1876, when the present contracts expire.
Mr. Williams, as a minority, dissenting from the last recommendation.
Mr. Wadge said it would take an expenditure of $600,000 or $700,000 to rebuild the Southern Prison, when, by expending $100,000 on the Northern Prison, it would afford equal facilities.
On motion by Mr. Friedley, of Lawrence, the reports were placed on file and referred to the next session of the General Assembly.
Mr. Wadge offered a joint resolution [S. 20] concerning the management of the State prisons - directing that the names of convicts be not published, as heretofore; that the cat be abandoned ; that convicts have clean suits of clothing every Saturday night; that the chaplains live at or near the prisons, and devote their entire time to the convicts; that the Governor appoint one person from each Congressional District, to be called a Board of Prison Reform; provided, they shall receive no compensation.
Mr. Hall moved to amend the resolution by allowing all monies received from visitors be appropriated for the purchase of books; and adding after the words "cat or whip," the words "or any substitute therefor."
Mr. Wadge accepted the amendments.
On motion the joint resolution was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to report at nine o'clock and thirty minutes to-morrow, and an amendment that the convicts shall not be worked more than ten hours a day.
Mr. Beeson, from the Committee on Mines and Mining, returned the bill [S. 205], regulating coal mines and the working thereof, with an amendment.
Mr. Friedley, of Lawrence, presented a minority report returning the bill [H. R. 230] with a recommendation that it pass. He said the House bill was substantially a copy of the laws of Pennsylvania and Ohio. This bill had passed the House, and he believed it impossible to get the Senate bill through the House, so if any relief is afforded this session the recommendation of the minority should be concurred in.
On motion by Mr. Chapman the minority report was laid on the table by yeas 35, nays 7.
page: 248[View Page 248]On motion by Mr Brown the majority report was laid on the table - yeas 29, nays 14.Mr. Harney, from the Committee on Agriculture, returned the bill [H. R. 434] in reference to covverting fees for licenses to Agricultural Societies, recommending its passage.The report was concurred in.
On motion by Mr. Dittemore, the bill passed to the final vote under a constitutional restriction, and passed the Senate by yeas 44; nays. 1.On motion by Mr. Dwiggins, the Senate refused to recede from its amendments to the State Printing Bill [H. R. 526], and asked for a committee of free conference.
Messrs. Dwiggins, Slater and Hough, being announced as said committee on the part of the Senate.
The Senate took a recess till two o'clock.
